Third impeachment complaint vs Sara Duterte transmitted to Speaker’s office

Vice President Sara Duterte holds a press conference, February 7, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File MANILA (UPDATED) — The Office of the House Secretary General said Tuesday it had transmitted to the Office of House Speaker Faustino "Bojie" Dy III the third impeachment complaint filed against Vice President Sara Duterte.  

"I confirm that my office formally transmitted the third impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte to the office of Speaker Faustino 'Bojie' G. Dy III early Monday night, in accordance with the Constitution and the Rules of the House of Representatives," House Secretary General Cheloy Garafil said in a statement.

"I emphasize that the role of the Office of the Secretary General in impeachment proceedings is strictly ministerial. My office is tasked only with the receipt, verification, and transmission of impeachment complaints and their endorsements," she added.

A group of nuns, priests, and lawyers filed the impeachment complaint on Monday, accusing Duterte of confidential fund misuse as vice president and when she was still education secretary. 

READ: Sara Duterte hit with third impeachment complaint

The complaint also cites an alleged death threat against President Ferdinand Marcos made during a late-night press briefing that Duterte has since said was misinterpreted.

The House Speaker has 10 session days from receipt to include the impeachment complaints to the House plenary's Order of Business.

Representative Leila de Lima, who endorsed the complaint, said she was confident it would advance to a House vote, calling it an "improved version of the articles of impeachment" sent before.

Duterte's camp said they were not surprised by the filing of the third impeachment complaint.

"The filing of additional complaints was anticipated by the Defense Team," said Atty. Michael Poa, legal counsel of Duterte.

"For now, we will continue to closely monitor developments and address these complaints through the appropriate constitutional processes," he added.

Also on Monday, the Vice President's brother, Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo Duterte described the timing of the impeachment complaint filings as "carefully timed," saying they are meant as "diversion" from the alleged flood control anomalies.

Last week, civil society leaders and members of a left-wing coalition filed separate similar impeachment complaints against Duterte.

They were filed just days before a House justice committee dismissed a pair of impeachment complaints against Marcos, saying they lacked the necessary substance to move forward. 

Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives last year only to see the country's Supreme Court throw the case out over procedural issues.

Under the Philippine constitution, an impeachment triggers a Senate trial. A guilty verdict would see Duterte barred from politics and sidelined from a potential 2028 presidential run. — report from Vivienne Gulla, ABS-CBN News; with Agence France-Presse